Long-term superior cervical sympathectomy induces mast cell hyperplasia and increases histamine and serotonin content in the rat dura mater
These results clearly demonstrate, for the first time, a long-term trophic effect of sympathetic nerve degeneration on mast cells in the dura mater. Since mast cell activation has been described previously on the painful side of cluster headache patients during attack periods, we propose that the sympathetic impairment reported in these patients could be prominent, directly or indirectly inducing mast cell hyperplasia and changes in amine contents in the tissue concerned.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6T0F-3YKKDB8-T&_user=10&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=1de581b2e86912852d82e7f89ca95aea